Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Compared: Ultimate Guide

The Golden Visa programs are one of the most desirable and accessible pathways for foreign investors to obtain European residency (and sometimes citizenship). These residency-by-investment programs provide a Plan B for global mobility, security, and business opportunities.

Greece and Portugal are among the top choices, but they stand out for entirely different reasons. Both the Greece and Portugal Golden Visa Programs offer residency rights, visa-free travel across the Schengen Area, family eligibility, and a route to citizenship. But they have different investment options, processing times, requirements, and long-term benefits.

If you’re interested in comparing Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa, then this guide is for you. We will take a close look at the main features between these two options, so you can choose the pathway that suits your investment goals.

Stick around to read about:

• Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa: How to Choose
• Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Benefits
• Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Investment Options
• Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Residency Stay Requirements

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Comparison Table

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa: How to Choose

Both the Greece and Portugal Golden Visa programs are strong. The “better” option depends on your priorities: Real estate investments, affordability, and flexibility (Greece) or a faster path to citizenship and higher-quality investments (Portugal).

Greece Golden Visa: Key features

Greece began its Golden Visa program in 2013 as a fast-track option to European residency. The minimum investment starts at €800,000 in high-demand areas such as the Administrative Region of Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with populations over 3,100. However, you can reduce the investment threshold to €400,000 if you invest in other regions of Greece, or even down to €250,000 for properties listed as special categories.

The program doesn’t require you to stay in the country. After seven years of living in Greece, eligible applicants can apply for Greek citizenship. You can also include your family—spouses, dependent children under 21, and both spouses’ parents. Plus, the Greek Golden Visa offers global mobility so that you can travel visa-free across the Schengen Area.

Pro tip: Greece is a great choice if you want access to real estate investment options. Golden visa applications have lower entry costs, faster processing, and no minimum stay requirements.

Portugal Golden Visa: Key features

Portugal started its Golden Visa in 2012 (before Greece) to provide an EU residency to investors capable of promoting economic growth. With a minimum investment of €250,000 and a short stay of 14 days within two years, it is the most flexible Golden Visa program in the European Union. However, the real estate investment route was discontinued in 2023.

After five years of living in Portugal, Golden Visa holders may be eligible for citizenship. They can also sponsor their dependent family members to settle with them in Portugal. The Portugal Golden Visa lets you travel visa-free across the Schengen Area, combining investment opportunities with European mobility.

Pro tip: Portugal is the safer, more liquid option for global investors who prefer to grow their wealth with approved investments.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Benefits

Both the Greece and Portugal Golden Visa programs have mutual benefits that make them attractive for non-EU nationals seeking residency and potential citizenship in Europe.

Here are the key benefits that these residency-by-investment programs share:

• Travel visa-free: Golden Visa holders in Greece and Portugal gain the ability to travel freely within the Schengen Zone. This includes visa-free access to 29 European countries, allowing for seamless movement for business, leisure, or family visits.
• EU residency: You can use the Greece or Portugal programs to get residency in an EU member state, which allows you to live, work, and study in that country.
• Access to healthcare and education: Residents in Greece and Portugal get universal healthcare and access to public education. Both countries have international schools and private health insurance, which are significantly more affordable than those in the United States or many other Western European countries.
• Lifestyle and climate: Greece and Portugal have Mediterranean climates, a coastal lifestyle, and a high quality of life. Whether you prefer the stunning beaches of the Greek islands or the wine regions of Portugal, both countries are comfortable places to live in.
• Stability and safety: Both Greece and Portugal are politically stable and have low crime rates, making them ideal for investors seeking a safe, secure environment for themselves and their families. However, Portugal stands out as the 7th-safest country in the world while Greece ranks 45th in the 2025 Global Peace Index.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Processing Time

The Greece Golden Visa has a faster processing time than the Portugal Golden Visa. With Greece, processing takes 12 months on average from the moment you submit the application to the final stage where you receive the residence permit.

In Portugal, Golden Visa applications take 18 to 24 months, and after biometrics, it can take an additional 9 to 12 months for the residence permit. The reason why the Portuguese Golden Visa takes so long is that the AIMA faces a backlog of applicants and has limited processing capacity.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Validity

The Greek Golden Visa has a five-year validity period and requires renewal every five years, provided the investment is maintained to retain permanent residency.

The Portugal Golden Visa offers an initial residence permit valid for two years, which must be renewed every two years. When the fifth year ends, if you meet the minimum stay requirement, you can apply for permanent Portuguese residency and/or citizenship.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Residency Stay Requirements

Golden Visa holders must meet a minimum stay requirement to maintain their residency in Portugal. For Greece, that’s not the case. This makes the Greek Golden Visa a more flexible option for investors.

In Portugal, Golden Visa holders must meet a minimum stay requirement. They must stay at least seven days in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period to maintain residency. Meeting this requirement is essential if applicants want to gain permanent residency eventually.

The two Golden Visas require applicants to maintain a clean criminal record during their temporary residency if they want to gain permanent residency or citizenship later.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Pathway to Citizenship

The Portugal Golden Visa has a faster citizenship timeline than Greece. With Greece Golden Visa, you become eligible for citizenship in seven years. You will need to maintain residency, have a clean criminal record, and pass a B1 Greek language test.

To obtain citizenship in Portugal, you need five years of residency. To meet the citizenship eligibility, you need to maintain legal residency, keep a clean criminal record, and pass an A2 Portuguese language test.

Both options offer a pathway to an EU passport for non-EU citizens. However, keep in mind that the Portuguese nationality law is looking to increase the time it takes to obtain citizenship from five to 10 years (or seven years for CPLP nationals). This law is not yet active, but if signed, it could significantly extend the timeline for applicants to obtain Portuguese citizenship.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Tax Implications

Greece and Portugal have their own tax advantages. You have to pay taxes wherever you earn money. Tax residency begins when you spend more than 183 days in the country in a calendar year or establish your main economic and personal ties there.

Taxation in Greece

Golden Visa holders in Greece are not automatically tax residents unless they spend more than 183 days in the country per year.

For those who do become tax residents, income is taxed as follows:

• Corporate tax: 24 percent
• Income tax: 9 – 44 percent
• Inheritance/gift tax: 10 to 40 percent

Greece offers a Non-Dom tax regime for new tax residents, where foreign income can be exempted from Greek taxes in exchange for a flat annual fee of €100,000—ideal for high-net-worth individuals looking to shield foreign income.

Taxation in Portugal

Golden Visa holders in Portugal are also not automatically tax residents unless they stay over 183 days annually.

For those who do become tax residents, income is taxed as follows:

• Corporate tax: 19 percent in mainland Portugal or 13 percent in Madeira and the Azores (or reduced 15/10.5 percent for small and medium-sized companies on the first €50,000 of taxable income)
• Income tax: 12.5 – 48 percent
• Inheritance/gift tax: 0 percent

They can also benefit from Portugal’s new Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation program (known as the NHR 2.0 tax scheme). Under this scheme, qualifying professionals can enjoy a flat tax rate of 20 percent and tax exemptions or reduced rates on foreign income.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Application Cost

The Greek Golden Visa has cheaper application fees. The main applicant pays a fee of €2,000, while dependents are charged €150 each. A valid health insurance can cost €150 to €800, alongside any additional translation and Power of Attorney fees, which can vary from €300 to €800.

Portugal’s Golden Visa program has more expensive application fees. The application fee is approximately €842.80 for the main applicant, and residence permits cost €8,418.90 per person. Every renewal costs an additional €4,210.30. Health insurance costs from €100 to €300 or over, while translations and Power of Attorney fees can set you back €500 to €1,000, depending on the amount of legal documents.

Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa Family Reunification

Both Greece and Portugal offer family reunification under their Golden Visa programs, allowing Golden Visa applicants to obtain residency for their loved ones.

In Greece, Golden Visa holders can include spouses, dependent children, and parents in their application. Family members qualify if they are financially dependent on the main applicant or are minor children, making it easy for families to move together.

In Portugal, Golden Visa applicants can also bring their spouses, dependent children, and other financially dependent relatives. Dependent children up to a certain age and family members who rely financially on the main applicant can obtain residency alongside the primary holder.

Both programs make it simple for Golden Visa holders to live in Europe with their families through family reunification, offering legal residency rights.

Which is better for you? The Greece or Portugal Golden Visa

The choice between Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa depends on your personal and financial goals:

Choose Greece if you want:

• Real estate investment
• Lower entry cost
• No stay requirement

Choose Portugal if you want:

• Faster path to citizenship
• Diversified investment options
• Stable immigration framework

You can check out our D7 Visa vs Golden Visa Portugal comparison guide for more information.

Spain used to have its very own Golden Visa program (you can see our article comparing the Golden Visa Spain vs Portugal). However, the Spanish Golden Visa ended in April 2025.

Goldcrest: How We Can Help You 

Goldcrest is a buyer’s agent that is based in Lisbon. We provide expert, impartial advice on real estate investments and how to buy property in Portugal. From scouting out the perfect property through to property acquisition, we have you covered throughout the process.

If you are looking to purchase property in Portugal, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of skilled experts is available to solve all your real estate doubts, helping you with the property search and offering insightful expertise and strategic advice.

Why choose Goldcrest?

• Local knowledge: With offices located across Portugal, our presence nationwide allows us to assist you personally across the country.
• Independent service: As an independent buying agent, we do not represent any development or project. Our service is entirely tailored toward each individual client, providing you with everything you need to secure the perfect property at the best possible price. As an impartial advisor on the market, we work solely on behalf of our client and provide a service tailored to your needs and requirements.
• Streamlined process: Our real estate agents speak English and Portuguese, and our service is completely focused on providing you with a hassle-free buying experience, saving you time.
• Experienced team: Our expert real estate team has a vast local knowledge of the Portuguese property market. We have cutting-edge technology and metasearch tools at your disposal to provide full market coverage, ensuring the best investment choices and negotiated prices.
• Network of partners: We have a close network of partners, including lawyers, property management services, builders, architects, designers, and landscape gardeners, again saving you time and hassle by providing you with trusted experts in their field of work.